The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-05-26
FRANCIS LABADIE.

The Wheeling. Va. Register gives the
| following sketch of Francis Labadie who
opens a three night engagement at the
| Opera House tonight:
while III conversation yesterday with
Mr.. Harry Coats, the genial and hustlng
| representative of the ''Nobody's Child
| Company" a reporter of the Register OBJ
tanned some very interesting notes con-
| corning the peoples favorite actor, Mr..
Francis Labadie, who will present No
bodys Child at the Grand Opera House,
IL this city, commencing tomorrow even
ing. April 4th, for one week, under the
personal management of Byron W. Orr,
who so successfully managed Silver
Spur" during the season of its initial per-
Torrance at the Grand. Francis Labadie
the popular and rising young actor, was
born in Silver Greek county, Michigan,
some twenty-seven years ago. He is of
medium height, well built, and possesses
much grace of freedom IN action. His
well lined features, erect figure, black
hair and glistening white teeth shows
marked traces of his Indian ancestry
Some two hundred years ago the Labadies
came from France, and settled in Lower
Canada. The grandfather of Mr..
Francis Labadle married the daughter of
a Chief of the Potowatomies tribe of In
dians. She is described as having been
very beautiful, and, if one may judge by
the handsome, manly features of the
young actor, report has certainly been
correct. Over one hundred years the
Labadies have lived on the banks of the
Detroit river, and the father of the sub
ject of our sketch was an Indian agent,
and interpreter for the States of Mlchl-
gan and Indiana for the Potowatomies.
His little son, Francis, was a great favor
tie with the old chief of the Potowatomies
tribe, and named him Wa-she-ka, Gnter-
preted means mud turtle0, appointed
him his successor as chief of the tribe.
Mr.. Labadie is proud of his American
ancestry, but it is needless to say that he
expects the position only as an honorary
one. He has without doubt the oldest
and most complete records of the tribes
that used to be located on the Detroit
river, which are now IN his possession
some of the lands along the river front
for several miles above Lornaker. Three
of them are signed by Pontiac, noted
Indian Chief. One is an agreement given
by Pontiac to General David Abbott, of
the English army, then located at Fort
Detroit, IN May, 1865, and further con-
veyance by Abbott to Mr.. Labadie's
grandfather, June 10th, 1863 There is
also a document of the fO11r Chiefs of tha
Chippawas, May 7th, 1871, to T. Labadie's
children, consisting OF a tract of land To-
Gated at the mouth of the Thames river.
containing the rude signatures of these
Chiefs, and also a deed of land. opposite
Peche Bland, given by the Cbief of the
Ottawas In 1773, registered by f. vii
Hams, May 18th l7Si. The old windmill
on the Detroit Derscela illustrated in
picturesque America, has quite history
connected with the Labadies, but space
viii not permit us to relate it at the writ
ing,
Mr.. Francis Labadie began his profess
slonal career in 1877, at the age of 10, and
since that time played in all the principal
cities between New York and San Fran
cisco, and during that time has probably
played in over 300 parts. For some time
he was a member of several stock COM
panles IN San Francisco and other cities.
In 1894 Mr.. l.. produced Master and
Man. appearing in the star role, at the
Standard Theatre, and in January. 1885.
desperate Straits" at the Lyceum.
The past two years he has been starring
IN "NObodys Child" and has won for
himself worldwide reputation In his
original character as Joe, the Wait"